Philly Park bars jockey Lynch

Fergal Lynch, the leading rider at Philadelphia Park this year, was banned from the track last Friday for one year after the jockey reached a plea deal with British horse racing authorities in which he admitted to holding a horse in 2004 in England, according to Pennsylvania regulators.

Lynch, who has won 99 races from 625 mounts at Philadelphia, was scheduled to return from a seven-day suspension for careless riding on the day he was barred, July 17. The order to bar the jockey was issued by Philadelphia Park's management, and was not an action taken by regulators, according to Justin Fleming, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission.

Philadelphia's stewards could not be reached on Wednesday, a dark day at the track.

The plea deal with the British Horseracing Board prohibits Lynch from seeking a license to ride in England for one year.

Lynch was also fined approximately $80,000 under the plea agreement, which was issued on July 8.